The spokesperson of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) said a statement that On Friday, ‘Isa son of Babu’ lost his life as the Pakistan Coast Guards drowned him in the sea at Kuntani, Jimuri, District Gwadar. The deceased, a resident of Dimpag, Dashtiari in western Balochistan, worked as a laborer on a speedboat transporting Iranian diesel.
He said that Iran’s oil trade has been unjustly branded as illegal, leading to the imposition of exorbitant extortion fees. Contrary to this narrative, the operations are conducted openly with the endorsement and oversight of the Pakistan Army, Coast Guard, and Police. regardless of this, workers engaged in this business often face violence under various pretexts.
The spokesperson said that the Pakistan Coast Guards are aligned with the occupying army and embody a manifestation of colonial power that harbors animosity towards the Baloch nation is prominent. Numerous complaints and video evidence depict instances of Coast Guard violence targeting Baloch laborers, citizens, and transporters, fueled by prejudice and hatred. The Coast Guards were ostensibly deployed to combat smuggling along the Balochistan coast but this force is involved in the spread of narcotics. This is a franchise of extortion in Balochistan for Punjab, which extorts money here for the Pakistan army and Punjab.
He said that The responsibility for this murder is not only Coast Guards alone; those who support the Coast Guards under the guise of business share an equal responsibility. Despite providing extortion to the coast guards, they fail to ensure the safety of the workers. We urge them to reconsider their actions, prioritize national interests over accommodating outsiders, and reform their conduct for the greater good of the nation.
The spokesperson said that human rights organizations should bring attention to the grave human rights violations perpetrated by the Pakistan army and its affiliated organizations in Balochistan. They must take proactive measures to safeguard the lives of the people in the region.